This is truly going to be an exciting year of riding

1. Yamaha R1/R1M

Yamaha played the hype machine just right with the R1 and R1M, letting the bike’s features and specifications speak for itself. So much so, it’s the 2015 model we at Motorcycle.com are most anxious to ride. Where do we even begin when discussing the reasons why? We can start with the 998cc inline-Four, its crossplane crankshaft, and the nearly 200 hp it’s claimed to put out at its crankshaft.

And then there’s the nearly endless amounts of MotoGP technology littered throughout the R1, like magnesium wheels, titanium fracture-split con rods, aluminum fuel tank and a plethora of top-tech electronic rider aids built around a six-axis Inertial Measuring Unit. The multi-axis IMU senses pitch, roll and yaw data 125 times per second to mitigate wheelies and stoppies while providing sophisticated traction control and MotoGP-derived slide control. And on the up-spec R1M, there’s GPS telemetry and Ohlins electronic suspension. Yamaha’s latest R1s, at least on paper, have the markings to be a real game changer in the liter-class superbike field.

Suggested Readings

We didn’t include 2015 models we’ve already ridden, the Scrambler being one of them. Says so right there in the second paragraph.

Kyle Smith

Bare in mind the KTM SX350 puts out more power, they’d have to tune a few more ponies out of this engine to make it worthwhile considering the weight of it.

Kosta Chachanidze

not that it was anmounced but still, not at all anticipating hondas “new africa twin?”

denchung

That will assuredly be a 2016 model, not a 2015.

fastfreddie

What about catering to us extremely rich busdrivers?Hello?!Where is hondas rcv213v in this list.All I see is rather plain motorcycles here…

panthalassa

rideadvice says $15,998 for the base turismo veloce.
good lookin’ bike, but it better really handle well, ’cause $5000+ sure will buy a lot of tires for the fj-09.

gg

I just found this article, but to compare a Yamaha to a MV Agusta is like comparing a Ford to a Ferrari.

johnny mars

These hyper bikes leave me cold and cranky from their painful riding positions and extreme pricing. Just gimme a comfortable, versatile, and economical sporty ride like the FJ-09, V-Strom 650, Tiger 800 X, or Kawasaki Versys 650 – 90% of the fun for half the cost. I’ll see you in Pantagonia.

Steve

The Vulcan S – Something new? Seriously? This has been done countless times.

Zandit75

With a parallel twin?

Amir

Very exciting category, evolving rapidly with many new models. Would be interesting to compare the “first class” bikes of the category, s1000xr / Multistrada / Ktm1190, with the more “value for money” bikes Versys / Fj-09 / Vstrom / Caponord. For one I’d love to know can a 160 hp really be put to use on a tour/adventure chassis ?!?

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